‘Open the hives’ — Why France is turning tank gunners into FPV pilots

France’s 1st Marine Infantry Regiment converted a light-cavalry squadron into an experimental drone-combat unit, retraining personnel including former AMX 10 RC gunners as FPV strike pilots. The formation combines reconnaissance drones, one-way attack FPVs and loitering munitions, while working with industry on swarming, terminal guidance and launch-canister technology. Its exercise results have informed an Army plan for approximately 15 drone-combat units by summer 2027, with further expansion later that year. A unit has already deployed to Romania under Mission Aigle, and another is planned for a November exercise in Poland, extending the approach beyond trials in France.